FSU basketball’s rise in the new AP, Coaches Polls, with KenPom, NET Rankings updates

Update: Nailed it. The Seminoles rose one spot in the AP Poll, to No. 16. They’re behind Purdue and ahead of Villanova. Florida State also improved to No. 22 in the NET Rankings. FSU also jumped two spots in the Coaches Poll, up to No. 17.

The past week didn’t feature much chaos in the national hoops polls. Nine of the top 15 squads in the AP Poll went undefeated, and of the six teams that did lose, four registered losses to ranked opponents. So while the previous No. 1 team in the land, Tennessee, will vacate its spot after a blowout defeat at No. 5 Kentucky, other movement among the nation’s elite could be rather limited.

Still, the No. 17 Seminoles certainly have an argument for an ascent after another unblemished week and seven straight wins, but it’s far from guaranteed. Florida State should pass No. 16 Louisville after the Cardinals blew a sizable home lead to a Duke squad that could inherit the country’s top ranking. However, No. 19 LSU is a very real threat to jump the ’Noles after going on the road and bettering the same Wildcat team that toppled Tennessee.

Nobody else is catching FSU from behind, and while No. 12 Purdue lost a game, coming up short at No. 24 Maryland may not be enough to drop the Boilermakers below the Seminoles. No. 13 Villanova did falter at St. John’s, and while that’s certainly not a bad blemish, it could mean a modest climb for the ’Noles.

Florida State is up to No. 20 in KenPom’s rankings, and is still 25th in the NET Rankings, which were last updated on Friday. Be sure to check back later, as this piece will be updated when the polls are released.